Electric device control apparatus and methods for making and using same

ABSTRACT

An electrical switch apparatus including a movement sensitive form is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motion sensor and a processing unit, where motion on, near or about the motion sensor is translated into output commands adapted for list scrolling, where the list can be arranged in a hierarchy such as menus or for changing a value of an attribute of a electrical device under the control of the switch.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/384,195 filed 7 Mar. 2003 (Mar. 7, 2003), which claims provisionalpriority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/363,024,filed 8 Mar. 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical device control apparatusand methods for making and using same.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical devicecontrol apparatus including a multi-device switch, a user interfaceresponsive to movement of a human or animal body part in at least twodifferent directions, such as an x direction and a y direction, andsoftware adapted to convert movements in the at least two directionsinto selection commands and/or switch commands sufficient to cause adesired selection and/or effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

The demand and requirement for electrical switches continues toaccelerate. In fact, in residential and commercial environments, thenumber of electrical switches has grown as fast or faster than thenumber of new electrical devices introduced in the marketplace. As thenumber of electrical switches has increased, the need for sure, certainactivation and deactivation of the switches has become ever moreapparent.

For example in both residential, industrial and commercial environments,overhead lighting is typically controlled by a manual on-off switch onthe wall. The switch is in the form of a mechanical lever that simplycauses the circuit to open or close. Very little has changed over theyears in this ubiquitous standard electrical switch.

Some minor variations, however, are found in the prior art. U.S. Pat.No. 2,421,881 to Heasty discloses the use of a rotatable disk with anumber of recesses around its periphery. The disk is supported on a huband two electric contact arms provide electric current through conductorrods in alternately spaced recesses. As the disk is rotated, electricalcontact is made and then broken.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,010 to Riedl discloses a spring loaded push platethat is designed to activate all electrical contacts underneath theplate at once or to selectively engage electric contacts underneath theplate by rocking the plate in the direction of the desired electricalcontact.

Additionally, it is known in the art to provide variable control overelectrical devices, for example, again, lighting fixtures, by means ofso-called dimmer switches. Functioning in a manner well-known in theart, the dimmer switch is activated by the well-known lever or, in somecases, by a knob that is simply twisted.

The longevity of the standard, mechanical, electrical wall light switchis testimony to its functional practicality. Nonetheless, as the demandfor, and number of, electrical switches has multiplied with themultiplication of electrical devices found within residential andcommercial environments, as indicated above, a need has arisen for anelectrical switch with expanded capabilities. Thus, there is a need inthe art for an electrical switch capable of manipulating multipleelectrical devices without the requirement of mechanically opening andclosing switches. Further, there is a need in the art for providing anelectrical switch that is easily modified to accept operational controlof additional electrical devices after installation of the switch. Stillfurther, there is a need in the art for providing an electrical switchthat is aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Electrical Device Control Systems of this Invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrical device controlsystem including a multi-device switch, an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal body part in at least two differentdirections, such as an x direction and a y direction, and softwareadapted to convert movements in the at least two directions into aswitch command, where the switch command is a devices selection commandor a device action command.

The present invention also provides an electrical device control systemhaving no mechanical on-off switches, where the apparatus maintains anopen circuit to all controlled electrical devices and controls devicebehavior by controlling a current flow to each device, where an “OFF”condition corresponds to a current flow below a device operating currentflow, a threshold current, a substantially zero current, a substantiallyzero voltage, a voltage below a device threshold voltage or a voltagebelow a device operating voltage.

The present invention also provides an electrical device control systemincluding a housing having an user interface mounted in a top surfacethereof and a multi-device switch in an interior thereof, where theinterface and the switch are in electrical communication. The interfaceincludes a sensor adapted to sense movement of a body part of a human oranimal and convert the sensed movement into an interface output signal.The switch includes a digital and/or analog processing unit, preferablya digital microprocessor, adapted to convert the interface output signalinto either a device selection scroll or a device attribute controloutput, where the device selection scroll cycles through a list ofdevices controlled by the switch and the device attribute control outputproduces a desired adjustment to an attribute of a selected device, suchas amplitude, phase, frequency, temperature, modulation, flow, humidity,etc. Thus, the apparatus can be used to control all attributes of eachdevice attached to the switch. For example, the apparatus could controlan intensity of light produced by one or a multitude of lights, controlthe temperature of a room, control the temperature and cooking time ofan oven, control an autoclave sterilization cycle, control a drugadministration cycle, control a process control cycle, control audioequipment, control visual equipment, control audio-visual equipment, orthe like. It should be recognized that an attribute of a device is anyadjustable control associated with the device regardless of the exactnature of the attribute.

The present invention also provides a control system for remotelycontrolling devices in a room or area removed from the system orisolated from the system.

The present invention also provides a system of multiple electricaldevices including, an electrical switch apparatus for manipulating themultiple electrical devices, which includes a rotatable sphere or balland a housing conformed to receive and retain the sphere or ball so thatthe ball can move relative to the housing. The electrical switchapparatus also includes an optical sensor adapted to sense physicalmovement of the sphere and to convert the sensed physical movement intofirst input control signals. The electrical switch apparatus alsoincludes a housing sensor adapted to sense receive physical movement ofthe housing and to convert the sensed physical movement into to secondinput control signals. The electrical switch apparatus also includes amicroprocessor connected to the optical sensor and to the housing sensorand to the multiple devices and adapted to convert the first and secondinput signals to devices output control signals for manipulatingattributes of the multiple electrical devices. The first input controlsignals resulting from movement of the sphere in a direction createsoutput control signals for the selection of one of the multipleelectrical devices. Once a device is selected, the first input controlsignals resulting from movement of the rolling sphere in a differentdirection creates output control signals for variable control of thedevices. Alternatively, the second input control signals resulting frommovement of the housing selects one of the multiple electrical devicesfor manipulation, and the first input control signals variably controlan attribute of the selected device.

The present invention also provides a system where movement of therolling sphere or ball in a first direction creates output controlsignals for the selection of one of the multiple electrical devices formanipulation and movement of the rolling sphere in a second directioncreates output control signals for variably controlling an attribute ofthe selected device.

The present invention also provides a system where movement of thehousing creates output control signals for the selection of one of thedevices, while movement of the rolling sphere creates output controlsignals for variably controlling an attribute of the selected device.

The present invention also provides a system including a motion sensorwhere movement of within the sensing zone of the sensor in a firstdirection creates output control signals for the selection of one of themultiple electrical devices for manipulation and movement of within thesensing zone of the sensor in a second direction creates output controlsignals for variably controlling an attribute of the selected device.Moreover, the system can allow attribute selection by continued motionin the second direction followed by motion in a third direction tovariably control the selected device attribute. Furthermore, the systemcan include a preset or programmable sequence of motions within themotion sensor sensing zone, where the sequence cause a preset orpre-programmed response of the selected device. Additionally, the systemcan utilize the preset or programmable sequences to control all of thedevices or any subset of the devices, where different patterns orsequences can result in a preset or pre-programmed global or partialglobal preset—mood lighting, music settings and selections, etc.

Method for Using the Control System of this Invention

The present invention provides a method for manipulating one electricaldevice or a plurality of electrical devices using a system of thisinvention, including the steps of sensing motion within a sensing zoneof a motion sensor in a first direction, converting the sensed motioninto an output control signal adapted to scroll through the devices orpreset collections of devices, sensing motion within the zone of thesensor in a second and different direction resulting in selection of adevice or a preset collection of devices, and converting the sensedmotion into control signals adapted to variably control an attribute ofthe selected device depending on a direction of motion in the seconddirection. If the selected device has more than one attribute, then themethod can allow include the step of converting the sensed motion in thesecond direction into an output signal adapted to scroll through theattributes and sensing motion in a third direction different from thesecond direction and converting the sensed motion into control signalsadapted to variably control an attribute of the selected devicedepending on a direction of motion in the third direction. Moreover, themethod can include converting a patterned motion into an output signaladapted to select a preset or programmed response of the selected deviceor collection of devices.

The present invention also provides a method of manipulating at leastone electrical device using a system of this invention, including thesteps of providing a rotatable sphere or ball in a conforming housingand sensing rotation of the ball in a first direction with a motionsensor such as an optical sensor and converting the sensed motion intofirst input control signals. The method also includes the steps ofprocessing the input control signals in a microprocessor into deviceselection outputs. The method also includes the steps of sensingrotation in a second, different direction and converting the sensedmotion in the second direction into second input control signals andprocessing the second input control signals into attribute controlsignals depending on a direction of the second motion and forwarding theattribute control signals to the device resulting in a change in theattribute. Again, the method also include steps for selecting anattribute from an attribute list due to motion in the second directionand sensing motion in a third direction, different from motion in thesecond direction, for attribute control.

The method can also include the steps of providing multiple electricalswitch apparatuses, each controlling multiple electrical devices andstep for selecting each switch and devices associated with each switch,where the devices can include lighting devices, motion devices, securitycontrol devices, sound devices, gas control devices, water controldevices, air handling (heating and cooling) control devices, temperaturecontrol devices or the like.

User Interfaces of this Invention

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement within a sensing zone such as movement of a human or animal, ahuman or animal body part or an object under the control of an human oranimal, where the interface is capable of sensing motion in more thanone direction, preferably in a plurality of different directions andwhere the interface converts the sensed motion into output signalscapable of being used as control signals.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where the directions are different, motion in a first direction scrollsthrough a selection list and motion in a second and different directionfrom a given scroll position corresponding to a desired selectionresults in generation of a command to change a value of an attributeassociated with the selection.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where the directions are different, motion in a first direction scrollsthrough a device list or an available (on-line) device list and motionin a second direction from a desired scroll position corresponding to adesired device results in generation of a command to change in anattribute associated with the selected device.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where motion in a first direction scrolls through a list of available(on-line) devices, a dynamic list, or a static device list and motion ina second direction from a scroll position corresponding to a desiredselection scrolls through an attribute list associated with theselection and motion in a third direction from an attribute scrollposition corresponding to a desired attribute of the selection changes avalue of that attribute, and where the first and second directions aredifferent and the second and third directions are different, while thefirst and third directions can be the same or different. This process ofchanging directions to cause a selection and eventually causing a changein an attribute of a selected device can be continued ad infinitum. Alist is considered to be static if it simply lists all devices that areattached to a switch, whether they are in an active or inactive state;while a dynamic list is a list that permits only selection from thosedevices that are active. The term inactive means that the device can nolonger be controlled by the interface, while the term active means thatthe device can be controlled by the interface. Moreover, the interfacecan be designed to sense motion in one direction and continue processingthe result caused by the motion until motion in a different direction issensed. Thus, the interface would sense an initial motion and wouldassume that that motion is continued until it senses motion in adifferent direction without requiring the actual continuation of motionin a given direction for obvious reasons. Furthermore, the interface canbe designed to sense motion and function in that state while the movingobject is subsequently at rest (move then hold) and the interface wouldact as if motion in the given direction is continuing. For example, ifthe motion is associated with a selection list, then an initial movementwould invoke a continuous scroll through the list which would beinterrupted only by motion in a different direction which would selectthe list member and either activate a secondary list or activate anattribute control, where a change to the attribute control would dependon the direction of the motion, e.g., up would increase the attributevalue, down would decrease the attribute value.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where motion in a first direction scrolls through a static or dynamicdevice selection list and motion in a second direction from a scrollposition corresponding to a desired device scrolls through an attributelist associated with the selected device and motion in a third directionfrom an attribute scroll position corresponding to a desired attributeof the selected device changes a value of that attribute, and where thefirst and second directions are different and the second and thirddirections are different, while the first and third directions can bethe same or different. This process of changing directions to cause aselection and eventually causing a change in an attribute value of aselected device can be continued ad infinitum.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where motion in a first direction scrolls through a first dynamic orstatic selection list, motion in a second direction from a first scrollposition corresponding to a desired first selection scrolls through asecond dynamic or static selection list associated with the firstselection, motion in a third direction from a second scroll positioncorresponding to a desired second selection scrolls through attributesassociated with the second selection, and motion is a fourth directionfrom a third scroll position corresponding to a desired attributechanges a value of that attribute, and where the first and seconddirections are different, the second and third directions are different,the third and fourth directions are different, while the first and thirddirections can be the same or different and the second and fourthdirections can also be the same or different. This process of changingdirections to cause a selection and eventually causing a change in anattribute of a selected device can be continued ad infinitum.

The present invention also provides an user interface responsive tomovement of a human or animal, a human or animal body part or an objectunder the control of an human or animal in at least two directions,where motion in a first direction scrolls through a list of available(on-line) multi-device switches (MDSs), a dynamic list, or a list ofMDSs, a static list, motion in a second direction from an MDS scrollposition corresponding to a desired MDS scrolls through a static ordynamic list of devices controlled by the selected MDS, motion in athird direction from a device scroll position corresponding to a desireddevice scrolls through available attributes associated with the selecteddevice, and motion is a fourth direction from a third scroll positioncorresponding to a desired attribute of the selected device changes avalue of that attribute, and where the first and second directions aredifferent, the second and third directions are different, and the thirdand fourth directions are different, while the first and thirddirections can be the same and the second and fourth attributes can alsobe the same. This process of changing directions to cause a selectionand eventually causing a change in an attribute of a selected device canbe continued ad infinitum.

The present invention also provides an user interface including aposition selection unit and a motion sensing unit, where the selectionunit includes a plurality of selection buttons, a plurality of activeselection positions, a selection slide ring, a touch sensitive selectionmenu, or any other selection device, where the motion sensing unit isresponsive to movement of a human or animal, a human or animal body partor an object under the control of a human or animal in at least twodirections, where the directions are different, motion in a firstdirection corresponds to one type of action and motion in the seconddirection corresponds to a second type of action. The action types canbe a selection action via menu or icon scrolling, an attribute selectionaction via menu or icon scrolling or a change in a attribute value wherethe direction of motion controls the direction of change of the value ofthe attribute.

The present invention also provides an user interface including aposition selection unit and a motion sensing unit, where the selectionunit includes a plurality of selection buttons, a plurality of activeselection positions, a selection slide ring, a selection slide, a touchsensitive selection menu, or any other selection device, where themotion sensing unit is responsive to movement of a human or animal, ahuman or animal body part or an object under the control of a human oranimal in at least three directions, where the successor directions aredifferent, motion in each of the directions corresponds to a selectionaction via menu or icon scrolling, an attribute selection action viamenu or icon scrolling or a change in a attribute value via motion in toopposing directions such as up or down or right or left.

The present invention also provides a movement sensitive form in onedirection that creates output control signals for the selection of atleast one of a plurality of independent electrical devices.

The present invention also provides a movement sensitive form in onedirection that creates output control signals for variable control ofthe at least one attribute of at least one independent electricaldevice.

The present invention also provides a movement sensitive form includinga movable housing in control disposition to a plurality of independentelectrical devices via a digital and/or analog processing unit such as amicroprocessor or microcontroller such that movement of the housingselects at least one of the plurality of independent electrical devicesfor manipulation, while movement in a different direction changes avalue of an attribute associated the selected independent device(s). Inone preferred embodiment, the movement sensitive form is moveable and inanother aspect of this invention, the form includes a movable objectsuch as a rotatable sphere retained in the housing. In anotherembodiment, the present invention also provides a movement sensitiveform that is internally lighted. In another embodiment, the housing isconformed to enable in and out movement of the movement sensitive form.In another embodiment, output signals for variable control continue aslong as movement of the form or the movable object associated with theform continues. In another embodiment, output signals for variablecontrol continue until movement in a different direction is sensed bythe movement sensitive form. In another embodiment, the movementsensitive form contains fluid with suspended material.

Methods for Using the User Interfaces of this Invention

The present invention also provides a method for controlling devicescomprising the step of moving a body, a body part or an objectassociated with a body or body part in an active zone of an userinterface of this invention, selecting at least one of a plurality ofelectrical devices, and changing a value of at least one attribute ofthe selected devices, where the interface can include only a motionsensing unit or a position selection unit and a motion sensing unit,where the selection unit includes a plurality of selection buttons, aplurality of active selection positions, a selection slide, a selectionslide ring, a touch sensitive selection menu, or any other selectiondevice, where the motion sensitive unit is responsive to movement of ahuman or animal, a human or animal body part, or an object associatedwith a human or animal in at least two directions, where successordirections are different.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdetailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings inwhich like elements are numbered the same:

FIG. 1A depicts a preferred embodiment of an electrical device controlsystem of this invention including a single multi-device switch;

FIG. 1B depicts a preferred embodiment of an electrical device controlsystem of this invention including a central control unit and aplurality of multi-device switches of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C depicts another embodiment of an electrical device controlsystem of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A depicts a preferred embodiment of an electrical device controlsystem of this invention including a single multi-device switch and ahandheld control unit;

FIG. 2B depicts a preferred embodiment of an electrical device controlsystem of this invention including a central control unit and aplurality of multi-device switches of FIG. 2A;

FIGS. 3A-C depict three views, top and two side views, of a preferreduser interface of this invention;

FIGS. 3D-F depict three views, top and two side views, of anotherpreferred user interface of this invention;

FIGS. 3G-I depict three views, top and two side views, of anotherpreferred user interface of this invention;

FIGS. 4A-C depict plan views of three preferred embodiments of an userinterface of the present invention including a motion sensor and activering;

FIGS. 5A-C depict plan views of three preferred embodiments of an userinterface of the present invention including a motion sensor and movablering;

FIG. 6A-C depict plan views of three preferred embodiments of an userinterface of the present invention including a motion sensor and aplurality of concentric active ring areas or movable rings;

FIG. 7 depicts a top view of another preferred embodiment of an userinterface of the present invention including multi-directional motionsensing and concentric active areas;

FIGS. 8A-D depict scrolling through a selection list with motion in onedirection relative to an user interface of this invention;

FIGS. 8C and E-G depict selecting from the list and simultaneouslychanging a value of an attribute by changing the direction of the sensedmotion;

FIG. 9A depicts a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9B depicts a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10A-B depict a top and side view of another preferred embodimentan user interface or switch with user interface of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11A-B depicts a top and side view of another preferred embodimentan user interface or switch with user interface of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 12A-B depicts a top and side view of another preferred embodimentan user interface or switch with user interface of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 13A-B depicts a top and side view of another preferred embodimentan user interface or switch with user interface of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14A depicts a circuit diagram of a preferred electrical switchapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14B depicts a circuit diagram of another preferred electricalswitch apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14C depicts a circuit diagram of another preferred electricalswitch apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 15A depicts a conceptual flowchart of a preferred program flow forsensing motion in a switch of this invention and acting on the sensedmotion; and

FIG. 15B depicts a conceptual flowchart of another preferred programflow for sensing motion in a switch of this invention and acting on thesensed motion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have found that a new multi-device electrical switch canbe constructed which allows many electrical devices and/or appliances tobe managed by a single multi-device switch or by a plurality of suchswitches either under central or distributed control. The inventors havealso found that the switches can be controlled by a novel movementsensitive human or animal interface which is capable to discerningmotion of a human or animal, a human or animal body part, or an objectunder the control of an animal or human in at least two direction, wheremotion in one direction allows selection of any one device or some orall devices controlled by the switch(es), device selection, and motionin the other direction controls a value of at least one attributeassociated with the selected device(s), attribute control. The inventorhave found that the motion can be due to direct interface contact or,and more preferred, by simple motion in a motion sensitive area and/orvolume and/or zone associated with an outer surface of the interface.

The present invention broadly relates to an electrical device controlsystem including an user interface and one or a plurality ofmulti-device switches (MDSs), each MDS controlling one or a plurality ofelectrical devices, where the interface senses motion in at least twodirections and converts the sensed motion into output signals that causea processing unit to either scroll through a selection list or to selectand change an attribute value of at least one controlled device, whereeach direction is different from its predecessor and its successor andwhere motion in a final direction causes the processing unit to changean attribute value of at least one controlled device. In addition to auser interface and an MDS, the systems of this invention can alsoinclude security devices such as finger print, hand print, retinal,voice, other electronic security systems, key locks, any other type ofmechanical locking mechanism, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Suchsecurity devices can include separate sensors or can use the same sensorused by the interface. Thus, an active pad sensor could be used not onlyto sense motion, but also to form an image of a finger print or handprint, while an optical sensor could also support a retinal scanfunction.

The present invention also broadly relates to an electrical switchapparatus or device control system including an user interface and amulti-device switch (MDS) controlling a plurality of electrical devices,where the interface converts movements of a human or animal body part inone direction to device list scroll commands and movements in adifferent direction into device attribute change commands.

The present invention also broadly relates to an user interface adaptedto convert motion of a human or animal, a human or animal body part oran object under the control of an animal or human in at least twodirections into either list scroll commands or selection/attributechange commands.

The present invention also broadly relates to an user interface adaptedto convert motion of a human or animal, a human or animal body part oran object under the control of an animal or human in a plurality ofdirections to list scroll commands, one list associated with change indirection, where each direction is different from its predecessor andsuccessor directions and where motion in a final direction is convertedinto attribute change commands, where the final direction is differentfrom its predecessor direction.

The present invention also broadly relates to methods for controllingdevices with an MDS or a system including at least on MDS of thisinvention, to methods for installing MDSs of this invention, to methodsfor controlling a plurality of MDSs and devices associated therewith anuser interface of this inventions.

The MDS of this invention are designed to supply a given wattage to eachdevice it controls. Because the MDSs of this invention can handle anddistribute a fairly large amount of power, the MDSs of this inventioncan control large numbers of devices such as banks of lights.

The present invention relates to a light control system including aplurality of lights in electrical communication with at least one MDS ofthis invention, where each light can be controlled separately, groupingsof lights can be controlled collectively or all of the lights, as asingle group, can be controlled collectively depending on a wiringconfiguration of the lights.

The present invention relates to a home control system including acentral control unit and a plurality of MDSs of this invention, whereeach MDS controls a plurality of electrical devices within the house andthe central control unit in turn controls each of the MDSs.

The present invention relates to a home control system including acentral control unit and a plurality of MDSs of this invention, whereeach MDS controls a plurality of related electrical devices within thehouse and the central control unit controls each of the MDSs, where therelated devices are devices the user associates with each MDS. Forexample, one MDS may control the lights in a room, while another MDScontrols audio-visual devices in the room and one MDS controlsenvironmental control equipment such as air conditioners, airhumidifiers/dehumidifiers, heaters, air purifiers, water purifiers,water conditions or the like.

The user interface of this invention allows the user to select anelectrical device and change a value of an attribute associated with thedevice without invoking any hard selection protocol, such as a mouseclick or double click, touch or double touch of a pad, or any other hardselection process. The user interface simply tracks motion in proximityto the interface, and when the motion changes direction by an amountsufficient to trigger a software threshold direction change value, thesoftware either issues a scroll command or a selection/attribute valuechange command. Although the movements are preferably in directionswhich are easy to discern such as motion in the x and y direction, anordinary artisan should recognize that the directions need not beorthogonal and need not be in an essentially x or y direction, but canbe in any two arbitrary directions capable of being discriminated therebetween and can actually be set on the fly. Thus, when an user moves,moves a body part or move an object under user control in proximity ofthe interface, the direction of motion is sensed causing either a scrollcommand or a selection/attribute value change command to be issued bythe software. For systems that have more than two levels of drill downlists and/or multiple controllable attributes, more than two change inmotion direction are required for selection and attribute value control.

In its simplest form, the switch is either an ON/OFF type switch or avariable control switch such as a dimmer-type switch for lights. Theuser interface or switch controller can be any motion sensitive ormotion sensing interface, including a main component and a motion sensorsituation in a control area. The main component can be a touch sensitivescreen, an active surface, a rotatable ball, or any other device thatpermits the sensor to discern motion in at least two directions, ormixtures or combinations thereof. The controller can be mechanical,inductive, capacitive, optical, magnetic, pressure-sensitive,electrostatic, any other type of device capable of changing state orcapable of discerning motion in at least two direction, or mixtures orcombinations thereof. As motion is detected, the motion is translatedinto useful controls. For example, movement of a body part or an objectunder control of a human or animal in an up/down motion may result intoggling a device on or off or changing an attribute of the device in acontinuous or discrete manner. The active area or active device of theinterface may be of any shape such as round, square, oval, star, or thelike. The interface may also include selection rings, selection banners,buttons, or a plurality of active areas, buttons, slides, rings, orother devices or mixtures or combinations thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, the active device of an interface is a balland the sensor is capable of detecting motion of the ball in at leasttwo directions. In another embodiment, the active device is a simplewindow, where movement is detected either by moving a body part or anobject under control of a human or animal within an active sensing zone,volume or area (e.g., an optical sensor) or by touching (moving across)an active surface. For touchless devices such as optical sensors,movement can be detected at a distance above a surface depending on afocal plane of the optical device. For example, for interfaces thatrespond to movement close to the surface, the distance can range fromthe surface to about 1 to 2 inches above the surface.

In the following examples of interfaces of this invention and their use,the interface comprises a rotatable ball in a housing having a sensorthat can detect motion of the ball in the housing. A preferred interfaceis similar to the new roller ball mouse devices for computers. However,in these examples, the ball may be substituted by any other type ofinterface including a motion sensor, whether now existing or yetinvented. The interfaces preferably can sense motion in at least twodirection such as up/down (y movement) and side-to-side (x movement).Some interfaces can also detect in/out motion or nearer/farther motion(z movement). These movements can cause menu scrolling, devicescrolling, attribute scrolling, switch selecting, device selecting,attribute selecting, and/or attribute adjusting (i.e., changing a valueof an attribute associated with a selected device). These interfaces alloperate by using motion to select devices and adjust attribute valuesassociated with the selected devices.

In one preferred example, the interface comprises a rotatable polygonalstructure with associated motion sensor having a rotatable ball mountedin a center thereof having an associated motion sensor. Rotation of thepolygon controls one type of action, while rotation of the ball controlsother types of actions. If the polygon is a triangle, this type ofinterface is ideally suited for controlling lights having 3-waysettings, while the ball can be used to select lights and/or act as adimmer type switch. Alternatively, the ball controls device selectionand attribute adjustment, while the polygon controls switch location.

In another preferred example, the interface includes a housing having aring and a movable ball. Movement of the ball up/down can act as anON/OFF type switch or a dimmer type switch. For movable rings, movingthe ring around could control the color combination of a color activedevice, i.e., control the red, green and blue values of colored devicessuch as LEDs, bulbs, colored bulbs, shades, etc. For touch sensitiverings, the position of activation can set the lights to a specificcolor, shade and/or hue, or can result in continuous changes of color,shade and/or hue due to motion around the ring.

In another preferred example, the interface includes a ball, where ballmovement up/down controls brightness of lights or volume of a device,while motion from side to side controls device (e.g., light) selection.The interface can also include touch points to choose different devicesor types of devices such as lights, mechanical devices (e.g., a/c,heating, water, etc.), security devices, audio, visual, audiovisualdevices, or the like.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a split ball, where moving one half controls oneattribute of a device, while moving the other half controls anotherattribute of the device, such as one half controlling the cold water andthe other half controlling the hot water. Alternatively, on half cancontrol lights in a room, while the other half control sound, roomtemperature, etc. In another split ball embodiment, each half is adimmer type switch for two separate circuits.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a flat surface (touch or touchless) having a singleactive area and associated sensor or a plurality of different activeareas and associated sensors, where the single area can be used tocontrol devices or the control can be distributed over the differentareas. Thus, the areas can be used to control different attributes of agiven device or to control different sets of devices that are eitherpre-defined or user assigned.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a ball mounted in a housing supporting in or outmotion of the ball (i.e., motion along a z-axis). The z-axis motioncould be used to turn devices on or off, turn all devices associatedwith a given MDS on or off, activate default setting or otherpre-defined device settings or presets. Thus, pushing in on the ball ortouching a touch sensitive surface at a specific place would allow theuser to activate pre-defined device setting, such as setting all thelights in a room or house to a day, evening, night, party, etc. setting;setting the sound in a room or rooms to a given mode of surround sound;activate security alarm system throughout a house or building; etc.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a plurality of movable components and associatedsensors such as balls, touch pads, active surfaces, or the like ormixtures thereof, each component and associated sensor assigned to adifferent switch, assigned to different devices on a given switch,assigned to different groups of switches, assigned to different groupsof devices or mixture thereof, where movement allows the user to selectand/or control a value of an attribute of a device, a collection ofdevices, a collection of switches, or a collections of switch anddevices.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a movable component such as a ball, where theinterface also includes a component that lights up when the interface isactivated, allowing it to be used as a night light or even a lightitself. In another embodiment, an user interface of this inventionincludes a clear ball such as an acrylic ball or glass ball andassociated motion sensor set in a base of a lamp, which providesillumination through the ball. As the ball is rolled, a light inside thebase shines up through the ball, illuminating the ball. When the ball isused to control an attribute, the ball brightens or dims depending onthe change to the value of the attribute (brighter light−higher value,lower light−lower value). When used to select devices or switches, theball can change color. This same lighting and color coding arrangementcan be used in conjunction with any other interface of this invention.It should be recognized that motion in one, two or more directionscauses the corresponding changes in interface brightness and/or color,shade or hue. For interfaces including separate selection devices suchas rings, buttons, banners, or the like, interface coloring can changein response to the selection process.

As an example, a tulip light fixture (a base with branches radiating outtherefrom or a central shaft with a set of branches radiatingtherefrom), motion in one direction, such as side to side motion, in anarea, zone or volume detectable by an interface of this invention causesselection of each light separately, while motion in a second directionsuch as up and down motion in the area, zone or volume detectable by aninterface of this invention controls intensity of light being emitted bythe selected branch, the branch from which the motion changed from sideto side to up/down. Of course, the selection of each branch and thelight associated therewith can be accomplished using a ring or othertype of device selector as described herein.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface of this invention includes a first motion sensitive detectorcomprising a rotatable polygon and its associated motion sensor and asecond motion sensitive detector capable of detecting motion in at leasttwo direction. The number of vertices associated with the polygoncorresponds to the maximum number of MDS and/or devices controllable bythe interface. By rotating the polygon so that a given vertex alignswith a selector or by merely scrolling through a list based on polygonrotation, the user selects a desired MDS or device. The second detectorallows the user to select other control levels such as selection ofdevices controlled by a selected MDS or attribute selection and/orcontrol. Alternatively, the polygon is not a physical device, but acomputer generated construct on a touch or touchless sensitive display.Touching or activating a given location results in the selection of adesired MDS or device, while motion in the active area or volume of thesecond detector results in other selections and/or attribute valuecontrol. Alternatively, the interface includes a single motion detectorassociated with the touch or touchless display displaying the polygonrepresenting the number of devices controllable by the interface. Forlights, an user can control the amount of light emitted by each light bymoving either from the center to the vertex associated with a desiredlight to increase the lights output or from the device toward the centerto decrease the lights output—maximum at the perimeter of the polygon;minimum at the center. If the user adjusts a desired light to a givenoutput and then desires to set the other lights at that or acorresponding output, the user moves his/her finger in a circular motionabout the center point, staying at a given distance from the centerpoint or in a given brightness zone. Then as the user's finger passedover rays or sectors representing the other lights, each light wouldimmediately adjust to the brightness level corresponding to thebrightness zone. This type of interface can also be used to controlspeaker volume in areas of a home associated with a stereo system, wherethe volumes in a certain zone in a room can be raised or lowered, wheredifferent radial pie slices would correspond to different regions. In aideal environment, any specific spot or area of a room can becontrolled, where the room is represented by an infinite number of raysradiating from a center point to a perimeter of the room and motionsensed by the controller in any outward direction causes a correspondingvolume gain in the corresponding area. So if you chose to move in onedirection from the center outward, that corresponding the volumeexperienced in that area of the room would increase. If you stoppedmid-way between the center and the perimeter, the volume would be ahalf. If you moved concentrically (at the same radial distance from thecenter point) around the center, then the volume in the room wouldincrease to half volume. If the user continued around until the user wasback at the start point, then the volume of in each area of the roomwould be equal, or as equal as possible with the speaker arrangement inthe room. Of course, motion from the perimeter inward would lower thevolume.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface includes a plurality of concentric rings controlling differentcategories of devices or systems, where the categories can be pre-set oruser defined. The rings can be physical or software constructed. Thus,one ring may represent a set of recessed lights or light fixtures arounda perimeter of a conference room. By touching one, some or all of lightindicators on the ring, their corresponding lights are made active andcontrollable by the central motion detector such as a ball. As the ballis moved up or down (y motion), the active lights brighten or dim. Afterthese lights have been set, the user can deactivate those lights andactivate other lights repeating the output adjustment. By motion side toside or right to left (x motion), the user can select from the activatedlights. Then the user can roll up or down, selecting and adjusting theoutput of the selected light. By seeing an indicator on the switch, itmay in this way be easier to know which light is being activated. It maybe useful for the fixture itself to briefly pulse so the operator wouldmore easily identify which light is being controlled. The next ring outmight control the amount of air coming out from vents, and the otherring may control speaker volume of wall-mounted speakers, etc.

In each of the interface of this invention, motion associated withchanging a value of an attribute (light output, volume, temperature, airflow, etc.), the rate of change can correspond to the rate of motionwithin the active area, zone or volume of the motion detector, butpreferably change occurs at a pre-determined rate, which can be presetand non-adjustable or preset and user adjusted.

The interface of this invention can be clear and includes a camera orother video devices, such video devices are ideally suited for babymonitors or other situation where surveillance by a camera in warranted.Moreover, the interfaces and MDSs of this invention can include a portfor updating programming or software functionality, where the port cansupport either wire or wireless interactions.

If the interface of this invention includes a ball, pushing down on theball can activate a z axis function. In optical interfaces, holding abody part or object under the control of an animal or human in placewithin the active area, zone or volume for a given period of time cancause the interface to automatically scroll through a device and/or MDSlist—activating a z function. Moving the body part close to and thenaway form the sensor may act to select different devices. The same holdstrue in variations of each type of sensor use, e.g., in touch-sensitivesensors, tapping on pad or area would change functions at each tapactivating the z-function, and once function is chosen, then up/down ory movement may active channel selection function for a TV or radio and xmovement (side to side) may control volume. Moreover, the interfaces canbe programmed to sense an initial direction of motion and continueprocessing the corresponding action until motion in a differentdirection is sensed invoking a selection function and a secondarycontrol function such as a subsequent list scroll function or anattribute value control function. Furthermore, the interfaces can beprogrammed to recognize a motion pattern or a set of motion patterns,where the pattern can represent an access code for security purposes ora pre-programmed response. For example, a certain series of movementsresults in setting all the light in a house to a pre-programmed setting,turning on the TV to a pre-programmed channel, adjusting the housetemperature to a pre-programmed setting or the like.

In all examples, functions in three different direction such as x, y andz are not limited to volume, brightness, etc., all functions may bemixed, changed and duplicated by movement in any direction, providedthat a given direction can be discerned from its immediate predecessordirection. In other words, to use an interface as a dimmer type switch,y movement can result in an on/off function, x movement can result inbright/dim function and z movement can result in color changes or in thenumber of bulbs activated. Alternatively, motion any direction canresult in the brighten/dim function, while other devices such as a ringcontrollers the on/off function or collective control functions.

All these same functions may be controlled by a joy-stick—x, y and zmovement of the joy-stick would correspond to movement of a ball or abody part. Alternatively, simple arrows or buttons can be used.

For radio tuning, a strip could be used to allow tuning by sliding yourfinger across the surface of the strip. When a desired station is found,either a tap or an up/down movement would select the station. Onceselected, movement along the strip would raise or lower the volume.Another tap or up/down movement could switch to tone control(treble/bass), an equalizer control, fade/balance control or the like.

The MDSs and interfaces of this invention can be constructed withmodules that can be hot-swappable, where the face plat or sensor is amodule capable of being replaced with an upgrade by popping the old outand popping the new in.

In another preferred embodiment of an interface of this invention, theinterface include a screen for internet browsing, TV watching, visualmonitoring (babies, etc.) or any other visual activity. By touching orwith a designated movement (e.g., in the case of touchless controllers)a virtual image of a ball or x, y or z axes are displayed so that thesame ideas of motion in proximity of a sensor may be incorporated in avirtual model. The interface can also incorporate holographic displays,where projection from a remote unit would activate with movement withinthe holographic projection. Movement within the holographic projectioncould result in scrolling through a list of controllable devices, whilechange in movement in the holographic projection when a desired devicecome into view could result in the scrolling of attributes associatedwith the device or changing of a value of an attribute of a singleattribute device. Of course, one of ordinary skill in this art shouldrecognize that this list selection—attribute control scheme can involvedrilling up and down through a large number of lists depending on thenumber of MDSs and the number of attributes associate with each deviceor MDS.

The interfaces of this invention can also include security detectors andsecurity software to limit access to control processing. The interfacecould include iris or retinal scanners, finger print scanners, facialtype scanners or the like to control access to the control units of thisinvention.

The optical sensors can also be used as optical touch or touchless padsfor notebook computer or drawing tablets. The optical sensors can alsobe digital or analog camera systems with focal plane set to sense motionwithin a zone, area or volume in front of the lens. The optical sensorscan be operate in any region of the electromagnetic spectrum including,without limitation, RF, microwave, near IR, IR, far IR, visible, UV ormixtures or combinations thereof. Moreover, LCD screen may beincorporated to identify which devices are chosen or the temperaturesetting, etc. Moreover, the interface can project a virtual controlsurface and sense motion within the projected image and invoke actionsbased on the sensed motion. The motion sensor associated with theinterfaces of this invention can also be acoustic motion sensor usingany acceptable region of the sound spectrum. Of course, the interfacescan include mixtures or combinations of any known or yet to be inventedmotion sensors.

A timed hold in front of a sensor can be used to activate differentfunctions, e.g., for a sensor on a wall, holding a finger or objectbriefly in front of sensor causes lights to be adjusted to a presetlevel. While, continuing to hold, begins a bright/dim cycle that endswhen the hand is removed. Alternatively, the timed hold causes anattribute value to change, e.g., if the attribute is at its maximumvalue, a timed hold would cause the attribute value to decrease at apredetermined rate, until the body part or object is removed from theactive zone. If the attribute value is at its minimum value, then atimed hold would cause the attribute value to increase at apredetermined rate, until the body part or object is removed from theactive zone. If the value is somewhere in the middle, then the softwarecould allow random selection or would select the direction that wouldallow maximum control. Of course the interface could allow for thedirection to be determined by the initial direction of motion, while thetimed hold would continue to change the attribute value until the bodypart or object is removed from the active zone.

Another interface of this invention includes an external shell (clear ornot) having an active fluid contained therein, where movement across thesurface induces a detectable movement of active fluid.

All that is required in order for the interface to function properly isthat the software must be able to determine when to transition from onecommand format, such as scrolling through a list to selecting a memberfrom the list, has occurred due to a change in a direction of motionsensed by the interface. Thus, the difference in the direction must besufficient to allow the software to make such a determination (to detecta discernable change in motion direction), without frustrating the userbecause the direction change routine does not permit sufficient angulardeviation from a given direction before changing from one command formatto another, i.e., changing from a list scroll function to an attributevalue adjustment function associated with a member of the list. Althoughthe angle deviation can be any value, the value is preferably about ±5°from the initial direction, preferably, about ±10° from the initialdirection and particularly, about ±15° from the initial direction. Forsystems set to run on orthogonal directions, e.g., x and y or x, y andz, the deviation can be as great as about ±45′, but is preferably about±35′ and particularly about ±25°. Alternatively, movement in a givendirection within an angle deviation of ±x° will result in the control ofa single device, while movement in a direction half way between twodevices within an angle deviation of ±x° will result in the control ofboth devices, where the magnitude of value change can be the same orless than that for a single device and where the value of x will dependon the number of device directions active, but will preferably be lessthan or equal to ¼ of the angle separating adjacent devices. Forexample, if four devices are located at +x, −x, +y and −y, from a centerof the interface, movement in a 45° angle relative to +x and +y wouldadjust the attribute of both the +x and +y device simultaneously, at asingle device rate or at half a single device rate or at any otherpredetermined rate of attribute value change.

Suitable electrical devices and/or appliance capable of being controlledby the control systems and/or switches of this invention, include,without limitation, any electrical device or appliance having attributeswhich can be controlled by a switch. Exemplary examples of suchattributes include, without limitation, ON, OFF, intensity and/oramplitude, impedance, capacitance, inductance, or any other controllableelectrical and/or electromechanical function and/or attribute of thedevice. Exemplary examples of electrical devices and/or appliancesinclude, without limitation, lighting devices such as indoor and/oroutdoor lights or light fixtures, cameras, ovens (conventional,convection, microwave, and/or etc.), dishwashers, stoves, sound systems,display systems (TVs, VCRs, DVDs, cable boxes, satellite boxes, and/oretc.), alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, roboticcontrol systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioningsystem, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems,computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computeroperating systems and other software systems, remote control systems, orthe like or mixtures or combinations thereof.

Suitable systems that are amenable to control by the interface of thisinvention include, without limitation, any analog or digital processingunit having a plurality of software products installed thereon and whereeach software product has one or more adjustable attributes associatedtherewith. Exemplary examples of such software products include, withoutlimitation, operating systems, graphics systems, business softwaresystems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems,military systems, control systems, or the like, or mixtures orcombinations thereof.

Suitable digital processing units (DPUs) include, without limitation,any digital processing unit capable of accepting input from a pluralityof devices and converting at least some of the input into outputdesigned to control attributes of one or more of the devices. Exemplaryexamples of such DPUs include, without limitation, microprocessor,microcontrollers, or the like manufactured by Intel, Motorola,Erricsson, HP, Samsung, Hitachi, NRC, Applied Materials, AMD, Cyrix, SunMicrosystem, Philips, National Semiconductor, or any other manufactureof microprocessors or microcontrollers.

Suitable analog processing units (APUs) include, without limitation, anyanalog processing unit capable of accepting input from a plurality ofdevices and converting at least some of the input into output designedto control attributes of one or more of the devices. Such analog devicesare available from manufacturers such as Analog Devices Inc.

Illustrative Examples of General Control Systems of this Invention

Suitable movement sensing apparatus include, without limitation, digitalcameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads,inductive pads, capacitve pads, holographic devices, laser trackingdevices, thermal devices, any other device capable of sensing motion orthe like or arrays of such devices or mixture or combinations thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a preferred embodiment of an MDS controlsystem of this invention, generally 100, is shown to include an MDS 102having a housing 104 including an user interface 106 and a processingand control unit 108. The system 100 also include a plurality ofelectrical devices 110 in command communication with the unit 108 alongpathways 112, where the communication pathways can include a pluralityof electric wires as shown in the figure or can be wirelesscommunication pathways as is well known in the art. Motion of a bodypart of a human or animal or an object controlled by an animal or human(not shown) about, over or near a surface 114 of the interface 106 in afirst direction 116 allows the user to scroll through the electricaldevices 110, and motion about, over or near the surface 114 in a second,different direction 118 allows the user to simultaneously select a givendevice 110 and a change a value of an attribute of the selectedelectrical device, where motion in the second direction 118 results indevice selection and the direction of motion results in changing thevalue in a positive or negative direction indicate by the arrowsassociated with the second direction 118. Of course, an ordinary artisanshould recognize that the directions 116 and 118 need not be orthogonaland need not be in an essential x or y direction as shown in FIG. 1A. Itshould be recognized that motion in the +x direction would scrollthrough the device list in a forward direction, while motion in the −xdirection would scroll through the device list in a backward direction.It should also be noted that the interface can be programmed to sensemotion in say the +x direction and continue scrolling forward throughthe device list until motion in the y direction is sensed at which timedevice selection and attribute control is invoked.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, another preferred embodiment of an electricaldevice control system of this invention, generally 150, is shown toinclude a central control unit 152 having a housing 154 including anuser interface 156 and a processing and control unit 158. The centralcontrol unit 150 is in command communication via pathways 160 shown hereas electric wires with a plurality of MDSs 102. One of ordinary skill inthe art should recognize that wires 160 can be replaced by any othertype of wired communication pathways such as optical fiber, coaxialcable, twisted pairs, shielded twisted pairs or the like or any type ofwireless communication pathways such as RF, ultrasound, laser, maser,IR, near IR, microwave, or the like. Motion of a body part of a human oranimal or an object under control of an animal or human (not shown)about, over or near a surface 162 of the interface 156 in a firstdirection 164 allows the user to scroll through the MDSs 102. While,motion about, over or near the surface 162 in a second, differentdirection 166 allows the user to scroll through the electrical devices110 controlled by the selected MDS 102, which is selected by a scrollposition when movement in the second direction 166 is sensed. Motion fora second time in the first direction 164 allows the user to change avalue of an attribute of a selected electrical device, where theselection corresponds to a scroll position when motion in the firstdirection 164 is sensed. Thus, a change in direction causes both aselection and a control function to be simultaneously activated, wherethe control function can be a scroll function in a drill down listhierarchy or a change attribute value function after a device and anassociated attribute has been selected. Whether the value of theattribute is increased or decreased depends on whether the motion is tothe right or to the left. Moving to the right, the positive x direction,increases the value of the attribute, while moving to the lift, thenegative x direction, decreases the value of the attribute.

Of course, an ordinary artisan should recognize that the direction 164and 166 need not be orthogonal and need not be in an essential x or ydirection as shown in here. Moreover, three different directions 168,170 and 172 could have been used to affect the same result as describedabove, as shown in FIG. 1C. All that is required is that the softwaremust be able to discern a change from one selection format (scrollingthrough a list) to a selection of a member in the list by a change inthe direction of the motion of the body part or an object under thecontrol of a human or animal over the user interface or within theactive sensing zone of the interface. Thus, the difference in thedirection need only be sufficient to allow software discriminationwithout frustrating the user because the direction change routine doesnot permit sufficient angular deviation from a given direction beforecausing a scroll selection or other list associated function.

As in FIG. 1A, each MDS 102 includes a housing 104 including an userinterface 106 and a processing and control unit 108, which allows forindependent user interaction with each switch bypassing the centralcontrol unit 152. Each MDS 102 controls a plurality of electricaldevices 110 connected to the unit 108 by a plurality of electric wires112. Motion of a body part of a human or animal or an object under thecontrol of a human or animal (not shown) about, over or near a surface114 of the interface 106 in a first direction 116 allows the user toscroll through the electrical devices 110, and motion of the body partabout, over or near the surface 114 in a second direction 118 allows theuser to a change of an attribute of a selected electrical device, wherethe motion in the second direction 118 results in device selection andthe direction on motion results in changing the value in a positive ornegative direction indicate by the arrows associated with the seconddirection 118. Of course, an ordinary artisan should recognize that thedirection 116 and 118 need not be orthogonal and need not be in anessential x or y direction as shown here.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, another preferred embodiment of an MDS controlsystem of this invention, generally 200, is shown to include an MDS 202having a housing 204 including an user interface 206 and a processingand control unit 208. The system 200 also includes a plurality ofelectrical devices 210 in command communication with the unit 108 alongpathways 212, where the communication pathways can include a pluralityof electric wires as shown in the figure or can be wirelesscommunication pathways as is well known in the art. Motion of a bodypart of a human or animal (not shown) on, about, over or near a surface214 of the interface 206 in a first direction 216 allows the user toscroll through the electrical devices 210, and motion of the body parton, about, over or near the surface 214 in a second direction 218 allowsthe user to a change of an attribute of a selected electrical device,where the motion in the second direction 218 results in device selectionand the direction on motion results in changing the value in a positiveor negative direction indicate by the arrows associated with thedirection 218. Of course, an ordinary artisan should recognize that thedirection 216 and 218 need not be orthogonal and need not be in anessential x or y direction as shown in FIG. 2A.

The system 200 also includes a handheld or remote control unit 220having a housing 222 including an user interface 224 and a processingand control unit 226. Motion of a body part of a human or animal (notshown) on, about, over or near or in proximity to a surface 228 of theinterface 224 in a first direction 230 allows the user to scroll throughthe electrical devices 210 as if the interface 206 was being directlyactivated, and motion of the body part on, about, over or near or inproximity to the surface 228 in a second direction 232 allows the userto a change of an attribute of a selected electrical device, where themotion in the second direction 232 results in device selection and thedirection on motion results in changing the value in a positive ornegative direction indicate by the arrows associated with the direction232. The remote unit 220 is in communication with the MDS 202 via awire-based and/or a wireless communication pathway or link 234.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, another preferred embodiment of an electricaldevice control system of this invention, generally 250, is shown toinclude a central control unit 252 having a housing 254 including anuser interface 256 and a processing and control unit 258. The centralcontrol unit 252 is connected, via electric wires 260 to a plurality ofMDSs 202. One of ordinary skill in the art should recognize that wires260 can be replaced by any other type of wired communication such asoptical fiber, coaxial cable, twisted pairs, shielded twisted pairs orthe like or any type of wireless communication such as RF, ultrasound,laser, maser, IR, near IR, microwave, or the like. Motion of a body partof a human or animal (not shown) on, about, over and/or near a surface262 of the interface 256 in a first direction 264 allows the user toscroll through the MDSs 202. Motion of the body part on, about, overand/or near the surface 262 in a second direction 266 allows the user toa scroll through the available electrical devices 210 controlled by theselected switch, which is selected by a scroll position when the bodypart moves in the second direction 266. Motion for a second time in thefirst direction 264 allows the user to change a value of an attribute ofa selected electrical device, which is selected by a scroll positionwhen the body part stops moving in the second direction 266 and startsmoving, for a second time, in the first direction 264. Whether the valueof the attribute is increase or decreased depends on whether the bodypart moves to the right or to the left. Moving to the right, thepositive x direction, increases the value of the attribute, while movingto the lift, the negative x direction, decreases the value of theattribute.

As in FIG. 2A, each MDS 202 includes a housing 204 including an userinterface 206 and a processing and control unit 208, which allows forindependent user interaction with each switch bypassing the centralcontrol unit 152. Each MDS 202 controls a plurality of electricaldevices 210 connected to the unit 208 by a plurality of electric wires212. Motion of a body part of a human or animal (not shown) about, overor near a surface 214 of the interface 206 in a first direction 216allows the user to scroll through the electrical devices 210, and motionof the body part about, over or near the surface 214 in a seconddirection 218 allows the user to a change of an attribute of a selectedelectrical device, where the motion in the second direction 218 resultsin device selection and the direction on motion results in changing thevalue in a positive or negative direction indicate by the arrowsassociated with the second direction 218. Of course, an ordinary artisanshould recognize that the direction 216 and 218 need not be orthogonaland need not be in an essential x or y direction as shown here.

As in the system 200, the system 250 also includes a handheld or remotecontrol unit 220 having a housing 222 including an user interface 224and a processing and control unit 226. Motion of a body part of a humanor animal or an object under the control of a human or an animal (notshown) on, about, over or near or in proximity to a surface 228 of theinterface 224 in a first direction 230 allows the user to scroll throughthe MDSs 202 as if the interface 256 was being directly activated.Motion of the body part on, about, over or near or in proximity to thesurface 228 in a second direction 232 allows the user to scroll throughthe devices 210 controlled by a selected MDS 202, selected by the changein direction. While, motion in the first direction 230 for a secondtime, results in a change of a value of an attribute associated with aselected electrical device, selected by the change in direction ofmotion. The remote unit 220 is in communication with the control unit252 via the wire-based and/or a wireless communication pathway or link234.

Although FIGS. 1A & B and 2 a & B are shown with either a single MDS andassociated devices or a central control unit controlling separate MDSs,each MDSs having associated devices, each MDS does not have to directlycontrol the devices, which may be part of a power bank. Thus, the MDSscan be in electronic communication with the power bank or a computercontrolling the power bank, where the MDSs would send command signals tothe power bank controller or to a computer controlling the power bank toexecute the commands set to it by the user-interface interactions.Moreover, the remote control unit could send its commands to a centralcomputer which would then route the commands to an appropriate MDS,power bank or device. Thus, the interfaces and MDSs of this inventioncan be integrated into a homes existing computer control and monitoringsystem, greatly expanding the computer control efficiency and enhancinguser friendly interactions.

Illustrative Examples of General User Interfaces of this Invention

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C, a preferred embodiment of an MDS or controlunit, generally 300, of this invention is shown to include a housing 302including an user interface 304 and a processing and control unit 306.Motion of a body part of a human or animal (not shown) in proximity to asurface 308 of the interface 304 in a first direction 310 allows theuser to scroll through a list of items such as devices or MDSs. Whilemotion of the body part in proximity to the surface 308 in a seconddirection 312 allows the user to either scroll through another list ofitems or to affect a change in a value of an attribute associated with adevice. Motion in the first direction 310 for a second time, wouldallows the user to either scroll through another list of items or toaffect a change in a value of an attribute associated with a device, andso on. The interface 304 is in communication with the control unit 306via a communication pathway 314, and the control unit 306 is incommunication with MDSs or devices via communication pathway 316. Thepathways 314 and 316 can be wire-based or wireless depending on designcriteria. In this embodiment, the user interface 314 is a relativelysmall device that senses motion proximate to the device. Such devicesinclude optical devices such as those devices used in optical mousedevices manufacture by MicroSoft Corporation and others. In fact, onsuch device is simply a mouse that is turned over and the optical planeslightly realigned.

Referring now to FIGS. 3D-F, another preferred embodiment of an MDS orcontrol unit, generally 300, of this invention is shown to include ahousing 302 including an user interface 304 and a processing and controlunit 306. Motion of a body part of a human or animal (not shown) incontact with or in proximity to a surface 308 of the interface 304 in afirst direction 310 allows the user to scroll through a list of itemssuch as devices or MDSs. While motion of the body part in proximity tothe surface 308 in a second direction 312 allows the user to eitherscroll through another list of items or to affect a change in a value ofan attribute associated with a device. Motion in the first direction 310for a second time, would allows the user to either scroll throughanother list of items or to affect a change in a value of an attributeassociated with a device, and so on. The interface 304 is incommunication with the control unit 306 via a communication pathway 314,and the control unit 306 is in communication with MDSs or devices viacommunication pathway 316. The pathways 314 and 316 can be wire-based orwireless depending on design criteria. In this embodiment, the userinterface 304 is larger than the interface of FIGS. 3A-C, an sensingmotion over its surface 308, either by direct contract, e.g., a mousepad, or with or without direct contact, e.g., a device sensitive tochanges in impedance on the surface 308. Impedance based devices canlook at impedance, inductance, or capacitance to determine the area ofcontact, where direction is determine by following the motion andconverting the motion into a motion direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 3G-I, another preferred embodiment of an MDS orcontrol unit, generally 300, of this invention is shown to include ahousing 302 including an user interface 304 and a processing and controlunit 306. Motion of a body part of a human or animal (not shown) incontact with or in proximity to a surface 308 of the interface 304 in afirst direction 310 allows the user to scroll through a list of itemssuch as devices or MDSs. While motion of the body part in proximity tothe surface 308 in a second direction 312 allows the user to eitherscroll through another list of items or to affect a change in a value ofan attribute associated with a device. Motion in the first direction 310for a second time, would allows the user to either scroll throughanother list of items or to affect a change in a value of an attributeassociated with a device, and so on. The interface 304 is incommunication with the control unit 306 via a communication pathway 314,and the control unit 306 is in communication with MDSs or devices viacommunication pathway 316. The pathways 314 and 316 can be wire-based orwireless depending on design criteria. In this embodiment, the userinterface 304 is larger than the interface of FIGS. 3A-C, an sensingmotion over its surface 308, either by direct contract or proximity tothe surface 308. Unlike the interface of FIGS. 3D-F, the interfaces ofthese figures, are matrix devices including a large number of sensingelements 318. Each element 318 having an ON state and an OFF state todetermine whether motion has occurred and if so in what direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-C, three preferred embodiments of aninterface, generally 400, of the present invention is shown to include ahousing 402, a selection ring 404 and a motion detector 406 able todiscern motion in an x direction 408 and a y direction 410. The ring 404is touch sensitive or active. The ring 404 can includes discretepositions corresponding to each device or MDS controllable by theinterface, or moving a body part over the ring in a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction could result in list scrolling.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-C, three other preferred embodiments of aninterface, generally 500, of the present invention is shown to include ahousing 502, a selection ring 504 and a motion detector 506 able todiscern motion in an x direction 508 and a y direction 510. The ring 504is a slidable ring including a slide nob 512, where the location of thenob 512 corresponds to a device or MDS controllable by the interface.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A-C, three other preferred embodiments of aninterface, generally 600, of the present invention is shown to include ahousing 602, three selection rings 604 a-c and a motion detector 606able to discern motion in an x direction 608 and a y direction 610. Eachring 604 a-c including a plurality of selection buttons 612, where eachbutton 612 corresponds to a device or MDS controllable by the interface.

Referring now to FIG. 7, another preferred embodiments of an interface,generally 700, of the present invention is shown to include a housing702, a physical or computer generated polygon outer octagon 704, andphysical or computer generated inner concentric octagons 706 a-d. Eachvertex 708 a-h of the octagon 704 corresponds to one of eight devices(not shown) controllable by the interface 700. Motion along lines 710a-h or within sector 712 a-h defined by adjacent dashed lines 714 a-hincluding each line 710 a-h, changes a value of an attribute of thedevices corresponding to the vertices 704. Concentric areas 716 a-ecorrespond to a given attribute value. Having moved a body part from acenter position 718 of the interface 700 in the direction of vertex 708a to concentric area or zone 716 c, and then moving the body partclockwise or counterclockwise within the area 716 c, immediately setseach corresponding device to the same attribute value for the zone 716 cor a proportional value corresponding to the area or zone 716 c. Thatis, if one device has an attribute value range of 0 to 100, whileanother has an attribute value range of 0 to 500, the adjustment of thetwo devices would be proportional to the range.

All of the illustrative examples of interfaces of this invention canalso include user feedback devices to indicated which item in aselection list is being selected. The feedback devices can be anydevices for identifying to the user the items in a list in a uniquemanner. Such devices can by visual, acoustic, or tactile or mixturesthereof. Thus, the interface can include a display device which woulddisplay a word, phrase, icon or the like to identify the item during ascrolling operation and to continuously display the item when it isselected. The display could then include a range indicator for attributevalues which would change in response to movement by the user, e.g, avolume indicator for a speaker, water temperature indicator for showersor the like. The feedback device could also be a sound generator whichcould state the devices during a scrolling operation and then state thename of the device selected and the direction of attribute value change.The feedback device could also emit a sound code, optical code ortactile code unique for each item in a list and a unique code toindicate the item during a scrolling operation or to identify aselection and to identify the direction of change of an attribute value.Such feedback devices can be tailored to users with different andspecial needs such as the blind, deaf, or the like.

The interfaces of this invention can also be made air tight and/or watertight so that the devices can be used in clean room environment or inareas that get wet such as showers, baths, or the like or underwatersuch as in pools, hot tubes or the like. The interfaces can be made sothat they can be routinely sterilized or disinfected, provided, ofcourse, that the sterilization conditions do not adversely harm theelectronic components in the interface.

Illustration of List Selection and Attribute Selection and/or Control

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-G, the method of operation of an interface,generally 800, of the present invention is shown. Looking a FIG. 8A, theinterface 800 is shown in its initial or inactive state (no motion of abody part in contact with or proximity to the interface has beendetected) and a selection list 802 associated with the interface isshown below the interface 800 and includes device indicator boxes 804for pictorial representation of the list, which may only exist incomputer memory. Of course, the list 802 and boxes 804 could appear in adisplay associated with the interface (not shown). The list 802 is shownin an initial state, where an active box 806 represents active device,and here is the first box in the list. Looking a FIG. 8B, the interface800 has detected motion in a positive x direction indicated by the arrowheaded line segment 808 and the interface responses by scrolling throughthe list 802 one box 804 at a time. Motion in the positive x directionhas caused the active box 806 to change by one position. Looking at FIG.8C, the interface 800 has continued to detect motion in the positive xdirection, causing further scrolling through the list 802 and changingthe active box 806. Looking a FIG. 8D, the interface 800 has continuedto detect motion in the positive x direction, causing further scrollingthrough the list 802 and changing the active box 806 to the last box inthe list 802. If the user where now to move a body part in the negativex direction, then the scrolling would proceed from the last box in thelist to the first box in the list. Moreover, the initial state of thelist when motion is detected can be anywhere in the list.

Looking at FIGS. 8C and 8E, the interface 800 has detected motion in thepositive y direction indicated by the arrow headed line segment 810 andthe interface responses by activating the device represented by theactive box 806. Motion in the positive y direction will cause a changein the value of an active attribute of the activated device depictedhere by a value gauge 812. Again, the gauge can exist only in a computermemory or may be displayed in a display associated with the interface800. For single attribute devices such as lights, motion in the ydirection control the value of the attribute, such as the output of alight. As shown in FIG. 8E, the attribute value is at its minimumposition 814. Looking a FIG. 8F, the interface 800 continues to detectmotion in the positive y direction causing the attribute value to changefrom its minimum position 814 to an active position 816, shown here atthe mid point of the value range indicated by the gauge 812. If the userstopped the motion in the positive y direction, then the deviceattribute would be at ½ is maximum value. Looking a FIG. 8G, theinterface 800 continues to detect motion in the positive y directioncausing the attribute value to change to a new active position 818,shown here at the maximum value of the value range indicated by thegauge 812. Again, motion in the negative y direction will result in adecrease in the value of the attribute. For system of this inventionhaving multiple selection lists, then changing to motion in the ydirection would activate a sublist, and changing to motion in the xdirection would either drill down or up the selection lists hierarchy.Of course, drilling down would eventually get the user to an attributecontrol functionality as shown in FIGS. 8E-G, which could be a y or xmotion. Moreover, drilling up would eventually get the user to the toplevel list. Alternatively, list drilling could be achieve by activatingthe interface and then holding the body part still for a set time priorto resuming motion. The pause would cause the software to transitioneither up or down a list hierarchy.

Specific Embodiments of Control Systems of this Invention

Referring now to FIG. 9A, a preferred embodiment of an electric switchapparatus 900 of the present invention includes at least one movementsensitive form 902 and a housing 904 conformed to receive and retain themovement sensitive form 902. An optical sensor 906 is conformed toreceive physical movement signals from the movement sensitive form 902and convert the physical movement signals into input control signals, aswill be discussed more fully hereafter. A digital processing unit (DPU)or microprocessor 908 is connected to the optical sensor 906 andconverts input control signals to output control signals. At least oneindependent electrical device 910 is connected to or in controlcommunication with the microprocessor 908.

The independent electrical device 910 may take the form of anyelectrical device now known or hereafter developed. In particular, theindependent electrical device 910 may be a lighting device 912, a motiondevice 914, a security control device 916, a sound device 918, and/or atemperature control device 920. For the purpose of explanation and notby way of limitation, the lighting device 912 may be a lamp, the motiondevice 914 may be louvers on an AC vent and/or window blinds, thesecurity control device 916 may be a household alarm, the sound device918 may be a stereo system, and the temperature control device 920 maybe a heating and air-conditioning unit, for example.

Still referring to FIG. 9, the embodiment of the invention illustrateddiscloses electrical switch apparatus 900 conformed to control thetemperature control device 920. In this embodiment, a face plate 922provides user controls as known in the art. That is, a soft switch, abutton, an active area or a manual heat/cool switch 924 is provided sothat the user may choose between heating and cooling. Also, the roomtemperature is indicated in a temperature display device 926.

In use, movement sensitive form 902, in this instance in the form of asphere, is rotated in the direction of up arrow 928 to raise thetemperature and toward down arrow 930 to lower the temperature. Thephysical movement of movable form 902 is sensed by optical sensor 906and converted to input control signals. In another form of theinvention, movement sensitive form 902 is a stationary form of anyshape, flat, spherical or other, and it receives and transfers themovement of a user about the movement sensitive form 902 to the opticalsensor 906. In either case, these input control signals are sent tomicroprocessor 908 where they are converted to output control signals.These output control signals are then sent to temperature control device920 in a manner corresponding to the user's desired result.

In one aspect of the invention, movement of rotationally movablemovement sensitive form 902 in one direction, for example in thedirection of direction arrow 932 or direction arrow 934, results in thecreation of output control signals at microprocessor 908 for theselection of one of a plurality of independent electrical devices 910.For example, temperature display device 926, in this embodiment,displays which particular independent electrical device 910 has beenselected by the movement of rotationally movable form 902 in thedirection of either arrow 932 or 934.

Once the desired independent electrical device 910 has been selected,the user moves movable form 902 in the direction of up arrow 928 or downthe arrow 930 to achieve the desired result. It should be noted, thatthe most basic desired result is simply to manipulate one or more of theindependent electrical devices 910 illustrated by turning them “ON”. Aspreviously disclosed, the electrical switch 900 of the present inventiondoes not involve the mechanical movement of the on-off switch as is nowknown in the prior art. Instead, as illustrated in ***FIG. 18***, theelectrical switch 900 of the present invention is always directlyconnected to the independent electrical devices 910 but by the controlprovided by microprocessor 908 only when a particular electrical device910 is selected for manipulation by a user is enough current allowed toflow so as to effect actuation of the device.

In another aspect of the invention, once the desired independentelectrical device 910 has been selected and turned on, continuedmovement of rotationally movable form 902 provides variable control ofthe selected independent electrical device 910. That is to say, thelights can be dimmed, the shades lowered, the sound raised, thetemperature lowered, the alarm turned down and so forth. In a furtheraspect of the invention, output signals for this variable controlcontinue as long as movement of the rotationally movable form 902continues until normal upper and lower stop limits are reached for theselected independent electrical device 910. Again, it should be notedthat in a preferred embodiment, movement sensitive form 902 isstationary and simply transmits the movement of the user “about itsform” to the optical sensor 906. In this regard, it should also be notedthat the term “about its form” includes movement that is “touchless” inwhich the user does not have to make contact with movement sensitiveform 902 and includes physical movement and touching of a stationarymovement sensitive form 902.

In a further aspect of the invention, where, for example, a singleindependent electrical device 910 is connected to electrical switchapparatus 900, movement of rotationally movable form 902 in thedirection of arrow 932 or arrow 934 turns the device on or off, as thatterm is used herein. In this embodiment, thereafter, movement ofrotationally movable form 902 in the direction of up arrow 928 or downthe arrow 930 provides for variable control of the independentelectrical device 910 to brighten or dim it as desired.

In another aspect of the invention, housing 904 is moveable in thedirection of arrows 936 and 938 such that the movement of housing 904enables a user to select a particular independent electrical device 910from a plurality of the independent electrical devices 910 connected tomicroprocessor 908. In this embodiment, thereafter movement sensitiveform 902 is used to activate the selected independent electrical device910 and/or variably control the operation of the selected electricaldevice 910 as discussed above.

In a further aspect of the invention, movement sensitive form 902 is inthe form of a sphere as illustrated in the figures. Certainly, anydesired, convenient, aesthetically pleasing form is well within thescope of the invention. In a further aspect of the invention, movementsensitive form 902 is lighted. Lighting may be provided by any means nowknown or hereafter developed and may serve the function of a nightlight, for example. In another aspect of the invention, movementsensitive form 902 is filled with fluid with suspended material. In yetanother aspect of the invention, housing 904 is conformed to allowmovement sensitive form 902 to move in and out in the direction ofarrows 940 and 942. The movement of movement sensitive form 902 in thedirection of arrows 940 and/or 942 may serve the purpose of selectingdesired independent electrical devices 910 and/or once the desiredindependent electrical device 910 is selected, acting to turn the deviceon and off, leaving variable control of the operation of the device tomovement about the movement sensitive form 902 in the direction ofarrows 928 and 930, for example.

Optical sensor 906 may take the form of any known optical sensor or anyoptical sensor hereafter developed. For example the optical sensor soldby Agilent Technologies under the brand-name HDNS-2000 is an acceptableoptical sensor for the purposes of the present invention. Further, othersensors may be utilized other than optical so long as the objects of theinvention are achieved. Additionally, microprocessor 908 is anymicroprocessor/state machine controller capable of controlling an ACvoltage source magnitude to multiple groups of AC power apparatus. Inthe case of the present invention, the input control signals to themicroprocessor 908 are generated by the optical sensor 906 which detectsthe physical movement about movement sensitive form 902 and converts themovement into quadrature signals proportional to the movement. A widevariety of useful embodiments are within the ordinary skill levels ofthose in the art. For example, as discussed above, microprocessor 908,in one aspect of the invention, detects two types of input quadraturesignals for user control. The first signal determines which group ofindependent electrical devices 910 is to be controlled. The secondsignal determines the voltage magnitude applied to the selectedindependent electrical device 910, thus providing variable control. Asuitable microprocessor 908 is the Z8EO01100PEC brand integrated circuitmicroprocessor developed by the Zilog Company of California.

Microprocessor 908, in a further embodiment, receives input signals fromRS232 or PS/2 devices. In this implementation, microprocessor 908communicates with the RS232 or PS/2 serial device control circuit. Itshould be noted as a further aspect of the present invention, that theinput signal may be generated from the detection of the movement aboutmovement sensitive form 902 in the form of physical movement of the formor the detection of movement by means of visual or infrared light, heat,pressure, optical, magnetic flux, electrostatic field, and/or vibrationdetection circuits.

Referring now to FIG. 9B, another preferred embodiment of an electricswitch apparatus 950 of the present invention includes a control unit952 comprising a housing 954, an optical sensor 956 place behind a clearplexiglass cover 958, a processing unit 960 (preferably a DPU), adisplay unit 962 and a security finger print sensor 964. The controlunit 952 can be handheld or mounted on a wall, on the surface of a deskor counter or on or in any other fixture or object. The optical sensor956 in conjunction with its associated microprocessor 966 convertsphysical movement into output signals to the processing unit 960 whichuses the sensed motion to activate list (menu) scroll functions oractivate attribute change functions. The processing unit 960 also sendsoutput signals to the display 962 so that the user will know what actionis being performed (list scrolling or device attribute control). Theprocessing unit 960 also receives output from the finger print sensor964, which is used to verify user authorization to use the apparatus950. The optical sensor 956 comprises an HP optical sensor used in itsoptical mouses and is capable of detecting motion at a given focal planeat or above the surface of the plexiglass cover 958. For simplicitiessake, motion in three direction are indicated: motion in a positive xdirection 968, in a negative x direction 969, in a positive y direction970, in a negative y direction 971, in a positive z direction 972, andin a negative z direction 973, where motion in the z directions, 972 and973, are associated with moving in or out of the active zone of theoptical sensor 956. The control unit 950 can either be connecteddirection to a plurality of devices 974, a plurality of multi-deviceswitches 976, which are in turn connected to a plurality of devices 978or to a mixture of devices 974 and multi-device switches 976 with theirassociated devices 978. The multi-device switches 976 can be identicalto the control unit 950 or can be a simplified version thereof lackingthe user interface, display and/or finger print sensor. Of course, theswitches 976 must be in communication with the control unit 950 eithervia wired communication links or wireless communication links 980.Moreover, the control unit 950 or the switches 976 must be connected tothe electrical devices 976 and 978 in such as way that they can turn thedevice on and off and vary any attribute associated with the devices forthe attributes full range via links 982. Furthermore, the apparatus 950can include remote control devices as described in FIGS. 1, 2, and11-13.

Illustrative Examples of User Interfaces of this Invention

The next series of drawings depict a variety of combinations of userinterface designs and constructions for use in this invention. Lookingat FIGS. 10A and B, the housing 904 is disk shaped and the movementsensitive form 902 is a rotatable sphere or ball. Looking at FIGS. 11Aand B, the housing 904 is a five pointed star shape and the movementsensitive form 902 is a rotatable sphere or ball having a central region903 adapted to receive a logo such as the seal of a state, a corporatelogo or the like. Looking at FIGS. 12A and B, the housing 904 is amulti-pointed shape rotatable around a base 905 and the movementsensitive form 902 is a rotatable hemisphere.

Referring now to FIGS. 13A and B, another preferred embodiment of anapparatus of this invention is shown to include multiple movementsensitive forms 902 in conforming retainers 907 in a housing 904. Inthis aspect of the invention, literally the whole universe of electricaldevices 910 may be encompassed within a single electrical switchapparatus 900. The importance or function of the electrical device 910may be represented by the size of the movement sensitive form 902 inrelation to the whole “planetary” system. Certainly, multiple electricalswitch apparatuses 900 disclosed in FIGS. 10 through 12 may be utilizedto provide room wide control of all the independent electrical devices910 in a single room, for example, under control of a central controlinterface.

Electronic Construction of Circuits of Preferred Embodiment of the MDSsof this Invention

Referring now to FIG. 14A, a circuit diagram 1400 of a preferredembodiment of an electrical switch apparatus 900 (FIG. 9) of the presentinvention is shown. With reference to the circuit diagram, componentsD1, D2, and R4 create a 60 Hz square wave used to synchronize themicrocontroller to power line frequency via a port PB2. The circuitdiagram 1400 includes three identical load circuits 1402 a-c, only oneof which will be described. R8 and OT1 provide an isolated commandsignal to trigger triac TC1, which allows current flow to a load LP1shown here as a lamp. A low signal from PA4 signals the light to turnon. Inductor L1 and capacitor C1 provide surge limiting and EMIfiltering and R1 places a balancing load across OT1. L1 reduces currentsurge and C1 reduces electromagnetic emissions (EMI). While the load LP1is a resistive lamp type device, i.e., a light, but can be any otherappliance which requires electric energy to power and can be controlledby changing either the voltage and/or current being supplied to theappliance.

Components R5, C4 and D3 provide a power-on reset for the Z8 CPU. Acrystal XTAL1 sets the Z8 CPU to run at a precise frequency. Thisfrequency is used by the phase control algorithm to vary the amount oftime that electricity is allowed to flow to an appliance and thereby toincrease or decrease current flow to an associated device such asbrighten or dimming a light.

The Z8E0010PEC is a simple microprocessor used to control the lamps andinterpret command signals. The HDNS-2000 is a motion sensor used forrotary or translational inputs. Components R7, X1 and LED1 provide lightnecessary for the HDNS-2000. R6 is a pull down resister which indicatesthat the HDNS-2000 should operate in quadrature output mode, as opposedto PS/2 mode. C5 provides a power-on reset for the HDNS-2000, whileXTAL2 sets the master clock for the HDNS-2000.

Referring now to FIG. 14B, a circuit diagram of another preferredembodiment of an electrical switch apparatus 900 (FIG. 9) of the presentinvention is shown. With reference to the circuit, components D1, D2,and R4 create a 60 Hz square wave used to synchronize the microcontroller to power line frequency via port PB2. In the figure, threeidentical load circuits are shown. For simplicity, only one will bedescribed. R8 and OT1 provide an isolated command signal to triggertriac TC1, which allows current flow to a load LP1. A low signal fromPA4 signals the light to turn on. Inductor L1 and capacitor C1 providesurge limiting and EMI filtering and R1 places a balancing load acrossOT1. L1 reduces current surge and C1 reduces electromagnetic emissions(EMI). The load LP1 is shown here as a resistive lamp device, i.e., anelectric light, but the load LP1 can be any other electric device.

Components R5, C4 and D3 provide a power-on reset for the Z8 CPU.Crystal XTAL1 sets the CPU to run at a precise frequency, shown here as100 MHz. This frequency is used by the phase control algorithm to varythe amount of time that electricity is allowed to flow to an applianceand thereby to brighten and dim the associated appliance. Again, theZ8E0010PEC is a simple microprocessor used to control the lamps andinterpret command signals.

Referring now to FIG. 14C, a circuit diagram of another preferredembodiment of an electrical switch apparatus 900 (FIG. 9) of the presentinvention is shown, without an optical isolator. With reference to thecircuit, components D1, D2, and R4 create a 60 Hz square wave used tosynchronize the micro controller to power line frequency via port PB2.In the figure, three identical load circuits are shown. For simplicity,only one will be described. A signal from PA4 triggers triac TC1 andallows the light or other device LP1 to turn on.

Components R5, C4 and D3 provide a power-on reset for the Z8 CPU.Crystal XTAL1 and associated capacitors C6 and C7 sets the CPU to run ata precise frequency, shown here as 100 MHz. This frequency is used bythe phase control algorithm to vary the amount of time that electricityis allowed to flow to an appliance and thereby to brighten and dim theassociated appliance. Again, the Z8E0010PEC is a simple microprocessorused to control the lamps and interpret command signals. Ports +5, PA0,PA1, PA2 and PA3 and resistors R11 and R12 are associated with clock anddata functions.

Illustrative Examples of Software Diagrams for Selection and Control ofDevices

Referring now to FIGS. 15A & B, two conceptual software flow diagramsare depicted. FIG. 15A depicts a two level activation protocol, deviceselection and attribute control; while FIG. 15B depicts a three levelactivation protocol, switch and/or device selection (list), deviceand/or attribute selection (sublist) and attribute control. Looking atFIG. 15A, a preferred two level flow diagram 1000 is shown to include asleep step 1002, adapted to await detection of motion on or in proximityto an interface of this invention. The sleep step 1002 can beimplemented in any number of programming methodologies well known in theart. If motion is detected in a conditional step 1004, then control istransferred along a YES branch 1006 to a determine active step 1008;otherwise control is transferred along a NO branch 1010 to the sleepstep 1002. If the motion is in the active direction as established byconditional step 1012, then control is transferred along a YES branch1014 to a scroll active list step 1016; otherwise control is transferredalong a NO branch 1018 to the sleep step 1002. Alternatively, thedetermine direction step 1008 and the conditional step 1012 can beremoved, and any motion regardless of direction will result in theexecution of the scroll step 1016.

If the direction of motion changes as determined by conditional step1020, then control is transferred along a YES branch 1022 to a changeattribute value step 1024, which selects the desired device from thelist where the change in direction was detected allowing the value ofthe attribute to change; otherwise control is transferred along a NObranch 1026 to the scroll step 1016. The attribute is changed until nofurther motion is detected or a time out occurs as determined byconditional step 1028, there after control is transferred along a YESbranch 1030 to the sleep step 1002; otherwise control is transferredalong a NO branch 1032 to the change value step 1016.

Looking at FIG. 15B, a preferred two level flow diagram 1050 is shown toinclude a sleep step 1052, adapted to await detection of motion on or inproximity to an interface of this invention. The sleep step 1052 can beimplemented in any number of programming methodologies well known in theart. If motion is detected in a conditional step 1054, then control istransferred along a YES branch 1056 to a determine active step 1058;otherwise control is transferred along a NO branch 1060 to the sleepstep 1052. If the motion is in the active direction as established byconditional step 1062, then control is transferred along a YES branch1064 to a scroll active list step 1066; otherwise control is transferredalong a NO branch 1068 to the sleep step 1052. Alternatively, thedetermine direction step 1058 and the conditional step 1062 can beremoved, and any motion regardless of direction will result in theexecution of the scroll step 1066.

If the direction of motion changes as determined by conditional step1070, then control is transferred along a YES branch 1072 to a scrollsublist step 1074, which selects the desired sublist from the list wherethe change in direction was detected allowing the sublist to bescrolled; otherwise control is transferred along a NO branch 1076 to thescroll step 1066. If the direction of motion changes as determined byconditional step 1078, then control is transferred along a YES branch1080 to a change attribute value step 1082, which selects the desireddevice from the list where the change in direction was detected allowingthe value of the attribute to change; otherwise control is transferredalong a NO branch 1084 to the sublist scroll step 1074. The attribute ischanged until no further motion is detected or a time out occurs asdetermined by conditional step 1086, there after control is transferredalong a YES branch 1088 to the sleep step 1052; otherwise control istransferred along a NO branch 1090 to the change value step 1082.

The description of the present embodiments of the invention have beenpresented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the 20 form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. As such, while the present invention has been disclosed inconnection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it should beunderstood that there may be other embodiments which would fall withinthe spirit and scope of the invention is defined by the followingclaims.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference. Whilethis invention has been described fully and completely, it should beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although theinvention has been disclosed with reference to its preferredembodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art mayappreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not departfrom the scope and spirit of the invention as described above andclaimed hereafter.

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 19. An user interfaceapparatus comprising: a housing, a motion sensor, an interfaceprocessing unit, and at least one system in electronic communicationwith the interface processing unit, where at least one of the systemsincludes a plurality of adjustable attributes, where motion on, near,and/or about the motion sensor produces output signals to the interfaceprocessing unit which converts the output signals into command outputsand where the command outputs are used to select a desired system and tocontrol a desired attribute of the selected system without invoking anyhard selection protocol.
 20. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein theelectrical device is selected from the group consisting of a soundsystem, a display system, an alarm system, a control system, a medicaldevice, a robot, a robotic control system, a hot and cold water supplydevice, an air conditioning system, a heating system, a ventilationsystem, an air handling system, a lighting device, a camera, an oven, adishwasher, a stove, a computer, a computer system a chemical plantcontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof and wherein thesoftware product is selected from the group consisting of an operatingsystem, a graphics system, a business software system, a word processorsystem, an internet browser, an accounting system, a military system, acontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof.
 21. The apparatusof claim 19, wherein the system is selected from group consisting of anelectrical device, a software product and mixtures or combinationsthereof.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, for a desired systemhaving a single adjustable attribute, motion in a first direction causesthe interface processing unit to issue a system scroll output causingthe interface to scroll through a list of the systems, and motion in asecond direction causes the interface processing unit to simultaneouslyselect the desired system from the system list and to issue an attributechange output to change a value of the single adjustable attribute ofthe selected system, where each direction has a positive component and anegative component and where motion in the positive component of thefirst direction scrolls through the list of systems in a forward mode,while motion in the negative component of the first direction scrollsthrough the list of systems in a reverse mode, and where motion in thepositive component of the second direction causes the value of theattribute to increase, while motion in the negative component of thesecond direction causes the value of the attribute to decrease, and thesensed motion continues until a desired value is attained and where thefirst direction and the second direction are different by an amountsufficient to allow direction discrimination by the interface processingunit.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, for a desired softwareproduct having no adjustable attribute, motion in a first directioncauses the interface processing unit to issue a system scroll outputcausing the interface to scroll through a list of systems, and motion ina second direction causes the interface processing unit tosimultaneously select the desired software product from the list ofsystems and to invoke the desired software product transferring controlto the desired software product, where the first direction and thesecond direction are different by an amount sufficient to allowdirection discrimination by the interface processing unit.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 19, wherein, for a desired system having a pluralityof adjustable attributes, motion in a first direction causes theinterface processing unit to issue a system scroll output causing theinterface to scroll through a list of systems, motion in a seconddirection causes the interface processing unit to simultaneously selectthe desired system from the list of systems and to issue an attributescroll output causing the interface to scroll through a list ofattributes, and motion in a third direction causes the interfaceprocessing unit to simultaneously select a desired attribute from thelist of attributes and to issue an attribute change output for theselected attribute of the selected system causing the interface tochange a value of the selected attribute, where each direction hasassociated positive and negative components, where motion in thepositive component of the third direction causes the value of theselected attribute to increase until a desired value is obtained, whilemotion in a negative third direction causes the value of the selectedattribute to decrease until a desired value is obtained, where motion inthe positive component of the second direction scrolls through the listof attributes in a forward mode, while motion in the negative componentof the second direction scrolls through the list of attributes in areverse mode, where motion in the positive component of the firstdirection scrolls through the list of systems in a forward mode, whilemotion in the negative component of the first direction scrolls throughthe list of systems in a reverse mode, where the first direction and thesecond directions are different by an amount sufficient to allowdirection discrimination by the interface processing unit and the secondand third directions are different by an amount sufficient to allowdirection discrimination by the interface processing unit.
 25. A methodcomprising the steps of: providing an user interface apparatuscomprising: a housing, a motion sensor, an interface processing unit,and at least one system in electronic communication with the interfaceprocessing unit, where at least one of the systems includes a pluralityof adjustable attributes, where motion on, near, and/or about the motionsensor produces output signals to the interface processing unit whichconverts the output signals into command outputs and where the commandoutputs are used to select a desired system and to control a desiredattribute of the selected system without invoking any hard selectionprotocol; sensing motion in a first direction causes the interfaceprocessing unit to issue a system scroll output causing the interface toscroll through a list of systems, where the first direction has apositive component and a negative component for scrolling up or down thelist of systems; and sensing motion is a second direction causes theinterface processing unit to simultaneously select a desired system fromthe list of systems and to: invoke the selected system; issue anattribute scroll output causing the interface to scroll through a listof attributes associated with the selected system, where the seconddirection has a positive component and a negative component forscrolling up or down the list of attributes; or to issue an attributechange output for the selected attribute of the selected system causingthe interface to change a value of the selected attribute, where thesecond direction has a positive component and a negative component forincreasing or decreasing the value of the selected attribute, where thefirst direction and the second direction are different by an amountsufficient to allow direction discrimination by the interface processingunit.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the system is selected fromgroup consisting of an electrical device, a software product andmixtures or combinations thereof.
 27. The method of claim 26, whereinthe electrical device is selected from the group consisting of a soundsystem, a display system, an alarm system, a control system, a medicaldevice, a robot, a robotic control system, a hot and cold water supplydevice, an air conditioning system, a heating system, a ventilationsystem, an air handling system, a lighting device, a camera, an oven, adishwasher, a stove, a computer, a computer system, a chemical plantcontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof and wherein thesoftware product is selected from the group consisting of an operatingsystem, a graphics system, a business software system, a word processorsystem, an internet browser, an accounting system, a military system, acontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof.
 27. A methodcomprising the steps of: providing an user interface apparatuscomprising: a housing, a motion sensor, an interface processing unit,and at least one system in electronic communication with the interfaceprocessing unit, where at least one of the systems includes a pluralityof adjustable attributes, where motion on, near, and/or about the motionsensor produces output signals to the interface processing unit whichconverts the output signals into command outputs and where the commandoutputs are used to select a desired system and to control a desiredattribute of the selected system without invoking any hard selectionprotocol; sensing motion in a first direction causes the interfaceprocessing unit to issue a system scroll output causing the interface toscroll through a list of systems, where the first direction has apositive component and a negative component for scrolling up or down thelist of systems; and sensing motion is a second direction causes theinterface processing unit to simultaneously select a desired system fromthe list of systems and to issue an attribute scroll output causing theinterface to scroll through a list of attributes associated with theselected system, where the second direction has a positive component anda negative component for scrolling up or down the list of attributes;and sensing motion is a third direction to issue an attribute changeoutput for the selected attribute of the selected system causing theinterface to change a value of the selected attribute, where the thirddirection has a positive component and a negative component forincreasing or decreasing the value of the selected attribute, where thefirst direction and the second direction are different by an amountsufficient to allow direction discrimination by the interface processingunit.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the system is selected fromgroup consisting of an electrical device, a software product andmixtures or combinations thereof.
 29. The method of claim 28, whereinthe electrical device is selected from the group consisting of a soundsystem, a display system, an alarm system, a control system, a medicaldevice, a robot, a robotic control system, a hot and cold water supplydevice, an air conditioning system, a heating system, a ventilationsystem, an air handling system, a lighting device, a camera, an oven, adishwasher, a stove, a computer, a computer system, a chemical plantcontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof and wherein thesoftware product is selected from the group consisting of an operatingsystem, a graphics system, a business software system, a word processorsystem, an internet browser, an accounting system, a military system, acontrol system, and mixtures or combinations thereof.